NEW YORK- The United Nations biennial meeting of states began July 16 in New York. The group metto discuss implementing the UN Program of Action to Prevent, Combat andEradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons Program.
Lithuania'sPermanent Representative to the UN Dalius ÄŒekuolis chaired the meeting. Thismeeting will continue until July 18.
During the meeting of states, four key topics will be discussed: internationalcooperation and assistance in solving problems related to small arms;management of stockpiles; illicit arms brokering and marking andidentification. The meeting should also project future objectives for the UNsmall arms process.
Since 2004, Lithuania hasallotted more than half a million Litas to various disarmament projects in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan,Belarus, Georgia, Moldovaand Ukraine.Lithuaniafunds mine-clearing operations and chairs the Standing Committee on MineClearance of the Mine Ban Convention and the international conference of theProtocol on Explosive Remnants of War of the Convention on Certain ConventionalWeapons.
